Chain link construction



Oct. 9, 1923,, 1,470,318

v 55. J. BEINNEIR ET AL CHAIN LINK CONSTRUCTION Filed Jar. 13. W

katented @ct. 19235;.

STANLEY IF. BENNEB AND CLINTON V. J. DIEHL, 01E HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAIN LINK CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed January 13, 1921. Serial No. 436,921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, STANLEY J. BENNER and CLINTON V. J. Drnnn, citizensof the United States, residing at Hazleton, in the county of. Luierne,State xof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Chain Link Constructions; and we do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to chain constructions, particularly to the linkelements thereof and has for its object to generally conceive andimprove the construction of the links and the manner of the assemblagethereof, eliminating the use of pins, cotter pins, bolts and other suchsecuring elements heretofore necessary in chain construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. chain of'suchcharacter that any or all of the links thereof may be quickly andeasilytaken apart and assembled, without the use of any tools whatever,and which has its connecting elements so constructed and arranged thatthe strain upon the chain will be equally distributed to all parts ofthe links thereof and the wear upon the connecting elements is equallyas evenly distributed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of whichwill be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portlon of a chain construction inaccordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the chain.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially upon line3-3 of Fl re 1.

ferring now more particularly to the drawings, a indicates the centralor connectin link of the chain, while 5 indicates the sie links thereof.The central link in the present instance is of solid or semi-solidconstruction and is rovided at 1ts ends with laterally projecting studs6, the studs upon the opposing sides of the link being alined with eachother.

The studs 6 are of cylindrical shape, and

the side portions thereof are concaved as indicated at 7, the base andouter ends of the said studs being of equal diameter.

The side linksfi of the chain are each provided near their ends withlongitudinally disposed slotsas shown, the inner portions of which 8 areof such size as to permit the outer or head portions of the studs 6topass through, while the outer ends of the slots are of restrictedwidth, such width being equal to the concave portions of the studs. Itwill be noted that the slots in the side links extend entirely throughthe latter, so that the studs 6 project entirely through the said links.

In assembling the chain links, the side links 5 are engaged with thestuds 6 by passing the latter through the enlarged portions 8 thereofand then moving the side links 5 outwardly until the concave portions ofthe studs are confined between the restricted portions 9 of the saidlink slots. The links are therefore positively connected and are insuredagainst becoming accidentally disengaged from each other, no pins orother securing elements heretofore employed being necessary in theattachment of the said links. Furthermore, by constructing the studs inthe manner specified, it is obvious that the strain to which the chainlinks will be subjected will be borne by that part of the stud adjacentto the base, the outer or head end of the stud being relieved of suchstrain. It is further obvious that, while being securely held together,the links are free to move relative to each other, and will not hinderthe operation of the machine with v which the chain is used in passingaround sprockets.

The enlarged intermediate portions of the connecting or intermediatelinks, as illustrated in the drawing, (particular reference being madeto Figure 2) not only serve to increase the stock and hence the strengthof these links, but terminally provide shoulders, arranged in the pathof longitudinal movement of the side or connecting links when arrangedin a position in alignment with the main or side links, to preventaccidental disengagement of the links in use, it being obvious that whenit is desired to disconnect or uncouple two adjoining links it isnecessary to dispose those links in rela-' tively angular position, sothat the adjacent shoulder of the enlargement on the connecting orintermediate link is disposed parallel with the side edge ofthe .mainlink,

whereupon longitudinal movement of ,the" pivot pin in the slot of themain link Furthermore, it will be observedtha-t theentire length of thestud or pin projecting laterally. from the lntermediate or connectmglink constitutes a bearing for the main or side link, there being noprojectionof said pin or stud beyond the outer surface of the side link,andthe concavingannularly of the stud or pin between the enlarged headand base thereof, in connection with the convex-.-

ing of the seat at the end of the slot in the main or side link servestoposition the side link definitelywith relation to the connecting linkand hold the connected links against relative lateral displacement ormovement, so that uneven distribution of longitudinal strain upon thechain is prevented and enlargement laterally of the main links isrendered unnecessary. This relative construction" and mounting of thelinks prevents strain on the chain from being shifted to one sidethereof as will occur in those construc tions of chains where there isany possibility of relative lateral shifting of the links, due to Weareither of the connecting stud or pin or of the sides of the links.

In the construction submitted the wearing of the adjacent side surfacesof two connected links, if they should be in contact, or if such wearshould be due to the interposition of dust or foreign matter, will notaffect the direction of strain on the chain or the position laterally ofthe said links. As a matter of fact, in the construction indicated, theWearing of the sides of the links when they overlap is prevented or atleast minimized and the etficiency of the-chain remains normal andconstant, regardless of the use thereof. l v

Again, it willbe obvious that any wearing of the contacting andrelatively concaved and convexed surfaces of the stud or pin and theseat engaging the same will not affect the centering or the relativearrangement ofthose bearing surfaces, with reference to the line ofstrainapplied to the chain, and will not tend therefore to change thelateral position of one link with relation to the other.

The cooperating and spherically rounded contacting surfaces of the pinsand side links constitute What for convenience may be consideredsemi-ball and socket joints which, in addition to the advantagesheretofore mentioned, involve in the wearing of the contacting surfacesa seating of the said links on the pins which increases instead ofdiminishing the transverse rigidity of the ,chain structure to preventside lash andthe consequent mounting of the; sprocket teeth maining orintact side link will hold the adjoining parts of the chain in properrelation to traverse the sprocket wheels effec-- tively until the injuryis. discovered and the machinery stopped to permit of the substitutionofa new link.

Tlie above 1s adescription of the mvention in its preferred form but itwill be understood that variation in the shape'and construction of thestuds and slots. aswell as the size and disposition thereof maybe variedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as defined bytheclaims;

. What is claimed is:

1. A chain having main side links and intermediate connecting links,pivotally united by pins or studs rigid with and extending laterallyfrom the latter through-the former and mounted in seats in the former,said studs or pins having concaved side bearing surfaces bounded attheir outer and inner ends by enlarged heads and bases and the seats inthe main links being transversely convexed to fit and center with saidconcaved side surfaces of the studs or pins to thereby form semi-balland socket joints and hold the links in a fixed position pgalinstrelative lateral movement and side 2. A chain having main'side links andintermediate connecting links, pivotally united by pins or studs rigidwith and extendinglaterally from the latter and mounted in elongated orslotted seats in the former, said studs or pins-extending entirelythrough the main links and having means for definitely positioning thelatter to prevent the lateral displacement thereof in either directionwith relation to the intermediate connecting links, said intermediate orconnecting links being provided with shouldersto limit the relativelongitudinal movement of 3. A chain comprising alternate double andsinglesolid link members, the former being provided with openingstherethrough ad acent the opposite ends thereof and thev latter beingprovided with. integral oppositely projecting headed stud portions whichare adapted to extend through said openin s and being also provided withintegral shoulders adjacent the opposite end portions thereof wlth whichthe opposite ends of the and ing end portions of adjacent single linksand each of the members of the said doublelinks being provided withelongated openings in the opposite end portions thereof and the saidsingle links each being pg)- vided With integral oppositely exten gheaded projections ad acent 1ts opposite ends, which projections areadapted to extend through the said 'openin and said single links eachbeing provide with shoulders adjacent its opposite ends which areadapted to abut with the adjacent ends of the members of the doublelinks, substantially as described. 1

5. A'chain comprising single and double links alternately arranged, themembers of each double link being situated upon opposite sides of andoverlapping the adjacent opposing ends of'adjoining single links, andeach double link member being provided 'with openings of key slotshape,the smaller portions of said openings being adjacent,

the ends of said members and the larger circular portions thereofconstituting inner terminals of the said openings, and the said singlelinks each being. rovided with integral projections situate adjacent theopposite ends thereof, which pro'ections terminate in circular heads,whic heads are adapted to be inserted through the circular rtions ofsaid slots, and the said single inks being provided with shoulders whichare adapted to abut the ends of the members of the double link membersto prevent disconnection of the links from each other,

substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signa- 45 tures, in the presence oftwo witnesses.

STANLEY vJ BENN ER. CLINTON V. J. DIEHL. Witnesses:

F. Manner, WILLIAM Rromans.

